Loose-leaf binder



J. SCHADE.

LOOSE LEAF BINDER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 11. 1920.

Patented Jan. 3, 1922.

units! STATS FE'CE.

JOHN SGHADE, or HOLYOKE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO narrower, BLANK. BOOK ooMPAriY; or 'HOLYOKE, nassecnnsnrrs.

moose-LEAF BINDER.

Application filed May 11,

To all'whomz'tmay concern:

Be it knownthat I, JOHN Sonanma citi-' zen of the United States, residing at I-Iol-' yoke, Hampden County, State of Massachu setts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Loose-Leaf Binders; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in a loose leaf binder and it aims to simplify the construction so that persons neither mechanically inclined nor skilled will have no difiiculty inoperating and manipulating the same.

A further object resides in the novel interlocking joint between the ends of the binder ring which consists in laterally notched terminal portionsvthat automatically engage when the sides of the ring are compressed owing to the inherent lateral twisting of the wire.

In the binder herein disclosed, three binder rings are employed but obviously a larger or smaller number may be supplied to meet the specific demands. Furthermore, modifications in design and structure can be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as exemplified in the drawing wherein.

Figure 1 is an open plan view of the improved loose leaf binder:

Figure 2 is a transverse section thereof on line 2-2 of Figure 1:

Figure 3 is a fragmental plan view of the ring supporting plate:

Figure 4 is a detailed elevation of the ring partly opened; and Figure 5 is a transverse section through Figure 2 on line 5-5.

In the drawing the numeral 1 designates the cover of the binder, 2 the back thereof reinforced by the metal back plate 8, and 4 the ring support which is provided lengthwise with a central, hollow or inverted V- shaped rib 5 and paralleling inturned or rolled side edges 6. At intervals along the inwardly rolled side edges are provided opposing pairs of recesses or ring seats 7 and intermediate the seats are cut-outs or transverse slots 8 in the rib 5.

The binder rings 9 are inserted in the slots 8 and engaged in the respective pairs of seats 7 where they are securely retained Specification :of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 3, 1922. 1920. 3 Serial no. 380,509.

by means of a locking pin 10 commonto all the rings. This pin is substantially the length of the rib and passes over the lower arcs: of the rings which latter normally hold the pin up inthe apex of the rib and aid in guiding the point over the succeeding ring. Each ring consists of a section "of a helix indicated by the dotted showing of Fig. 4, having its terminal portions formed with lateral notches 11 that open in oppositedirections away from one another, when the "ring is fully opened. To interlock the terminals the latter are sprung past one another in an axial direction when the inherent resiliency of the metal will tendto contract the ring so that its extremities will laterally engage as indicated in Figure 4,

and the notches 11 will then be within con tiguous portions of the ring terminals. The terminals in this position are, therefore, under laterally directed or twisting tension whereby upon compressing the sides of the ring the notched ends will spring intointerlocking relation which can only be separated by laterally spreading them apart.

The ring support 4 is secured to the back plate 3 by striking up pairs of opposing cleats 12 through the slots 8 and bending them outwardly back onto the ring supporting plate. This novel manner of anchoring the support obviates the necessity of additional securing means and permits the lateral portions or ring seats to yield for disposing the lower arcs of the rings sufficiently low in the slots 8 to readily pass the looking pin thereover. The resilient mounting of the rings affords a frictional contact between the latter and the locking pin for preventing accidental dislodgment of said pin. This construction provides a firmer and more durable binder which is so simple in make-up as to be most easily operated by any unskilled clerk. The back plate and ring support can obviously be an integral structure, or the back plate entirely eliminated. The rings automatically interlock merely by compressing the sides of the rings. From the foregoing it will be noted that a binder is provided in which the binder rings are quickly attachable to and detachable from the cover so that the user of the book can disengage the rings from the cover and file away the entire filler mounted on the rings. Since the rings are produced and obtained at a very small cost the cover can for refilling. The construction is therefore economical, can benianu'facturcdat a very low cost, and'will lend itself to any" desired spacing of rings as one may wish, requiring. more or less spacing of slots 8 and seats 7. To open the binder ring it is merely necesmy to pull the interlockedends apart to one side and then permit them to spring, apart endwise due to their inherent resiliency.

By making the rings and ring supports separate, the shipment of the goods is greatly facilitated because the covers can. be spread out and packed together flat, and the rings can be sent separately, thus greatly decreasing the bulk and expense in shipping.

Thesame cover and ring, support may be used; for different sizes of rings. The user mayfuse a. small size ring and ifhe] discovers that. he rapidly fills the rings he. can remove them and file themaway with the loose leaves contained on the rings and then substitute larger rings, or, in a three or four ring bindelyhe can have the two. end ringsoi a larger size, as for instance, for holding certain, loose leaves, and have the intermediate rings of a smaller size for holding memo.- randum or other slips, the two sets entirely separate;

What is claimed is I; A loose leaf binder comprising'a back plate, a ring supporting plate having its side edges rolled inwardly to provide resilient ring engaging portions which are formed with seats to receive the binder rings-,j saidplatessecured together, and movable means between the resilient portions for. securing a ring to its seats.

2. A lo'ose leaf binder comprising a back plate, a ring supporting plate having its side edges rolled inwardly to provide resilientring; engaging portions which are formed with seats to receive the binder rings, said ring supporting plate havingnan intermediate Bib termedtransversely with slots to; re-

ceive the lower arcs ofi tlrei rings when the latter areengaged in thei-r' seats, said back platehaving clinching lips-i struck therefrom up through the slots, of the ring supporting platetoisecure the two lates';..together*, and means for holding the rings in the slots.

3. In a-loose least binder, a ring support- 7 ing plate havinga central, longitudinal rib and inwardly rolled, ring supporting side edges said rib formedwith a, transverse slot, and a locking pin movable within therib acrossv the slot torsecuring a ring therein. andon the side edges.

4.- Ina loose leaf binder, a ring supporting plate having spaced. and-yieldable ring engaging parts, j and a movable, ring lock between the parts frictionally secured in its operative position; by the'cooperation of the latter.. i

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOHN SCHADE. 

